2-heteroaryl-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole derivatives and their use as SCD inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to heterocyclic derivatives of formula I 
                         
wherein R, R1, A, B, D, M, L and n are as defined herein, or their physiologically compatible salts, their pharmaceutical compositions and their uses as SCD1 inhibitors.

This application is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2008/003019, filed Apr. 16, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The invention relates to heterocyclic derivatives and to their physiologically compatible salts.

Structurally similar compounds and their use as SCD1 inhibitors have already been described.

It was an object of the invention to provide novel compounds which display a therapeutically utilizable action. More particularly, the object consisted in finding novel compounds which are suitable for treatment of elevated lipid concentrations in the blood and in tissue, metabolic syndrome, obesity, especially visceral (abdominal) obesity, including the prevention of the sequelae associated therewith, diabetes, insulin resistance, disregulation of LDL, HLD and VLDL, or cardiovascular disorders.

The invention therefore relates to compounds of the formula I

in which

-   R is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₅)-alkyloxy, (C₁-C₅)-alkylthio,     (C₁-C₅)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₈)-alkylamino,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl, a bicyclic (C₈-C₁₄) ring     system,     -   where aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl or the bicyclic         (C₈-C₁₄) ring system may be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen,         (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,         di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, mono-(C₁-C₆)-alkylamino-carbonyl,         di-(C₂-C₈)-alkylaminocarbonyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl,         trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl; -   R1 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyloxy, amino,     mono-(C₁-C₁₀)-alkyl-amino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino,     -   where alkyl may be substituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl,         (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, —(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl,         —(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl, —(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl or         —(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl,         -   where aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl may each             optionally be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen,             (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,             (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,             di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino; -   R2 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl; -   R3 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,     (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-mercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,     di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, halogen,     trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl,     aminosulfonyl; -   A is O, S, N(R2), C(R3), C(R3)═C(R3), NH═C(R3), C(R3)═NH, NH═NH; -   B is C(R3), N; -   D is C(R3), N;     where at least one of the members A, B or D must be nitrogen; -   n are each independently 1 or 2; -   L is a bond, —C(═O)—, —C(═S)—, —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —C(═O)—O—, —S(O)₀₋₂—,     —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—, a mono- or bicyclic ring system in which one or     more ring members may be N(R3), O, S or —C(═O)—; -   M is —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —N(R2)—C(═O)—, —S(O)₀₋₂—, —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—,     —N(R2)—S(O)₀₋₂—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—;     and the physiologically compatible salts thereof.

Preference is given to compounds of the formula I, in which

-   R is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₅)-alkyloxy, (C₁-C₅)-alkylthio,     (C₁-C₅)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₈)-alkylamino,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl, a bicyclic (C₈-C₁₄) ring     system,     -   where aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl or the bicyclic         (C₈-C₁₄) ring system may be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen,         (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,         di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, mono-(C₁-C₆)-alkylamino-carbonyl,         di-(C₂-C₈)-alkylaminocarbonyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl,         trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl; -   R1 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyloxy, amino,     mono-(C₁-C₁₀)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino,     -   where alkyl may be substituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl,         (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, —(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl,         —(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl, —(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl or         —(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl,         -   where aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl may each             optionally be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen,             (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,             (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,             di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino; -   R2 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl; -   R3 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,     (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-mercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,     di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, halogen,     trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl,     aminosulfonyl; -   A is O, S, N(R2), C(R3), C(R3)═C(R3); -   B is C(R3), N; -   D is C(R3), N;     where at least one of the members A, B or D must be nitrogen; -   n are each independently 1 or 2; -   L is a bond, —C(═O)—, —C(═S)—, —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —C(═O)—O—, —S(O)₀₋₂—,     —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—, a mono- or bicyclic ring system in which one or     more ring members may be N(R3), O, S or —C(═O)—; -   M is —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —N(R2)—C(═O)—, —S(O)₀₋₂—, —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—,     —N(R2)—S(O)₀₋₂—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—;     and the physiologically compatible salts thereof.

Particular preference is given to compounds of the formula I where n is 1, which gives rise to the compounds of the formula Ia

in which

-   R is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₅)-alkyloxy, (C₁-C₅)-alkylthio,     (C₁-C₅)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₈)-alkylamino,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl, a bicyclic (C₈-C₁₄) ring     system,     -   where aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl or the bicyclic         (C₈-C₁₄) ring system may be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen,         (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,         di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, mono-(C₁-C₆)-alkylamino-carbonyl,         di-(C₂-C₈)-alkylaminocarbonyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl,         trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl; -   R1 is (C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyloxy, amino,     mono-(C₁-C₁₀)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino,     -   where alkyl may be substituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl,         (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, —(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl,         —(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl, —(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl or         —(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl,         -   where aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl may each             optionally be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen,             (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,             (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,             di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino; -   R2 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl; -   R3 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,     (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,     di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, halogen,     trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl,     aminosulfonyl; -   A is O, S, N(R2), C(R3), C(R3)=C(R3); -   B is C(R3), N; -   is C(R3), N;     where at least one of the members A, B or D must be nitrogen; -   L is a bond, —C(═O)—, —C(═S)—, —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —C(═O)—O—, —S(O)₀₋₂—,     —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—, a mono- or bicyclic ring system in which one or     more ring members may be N(R3), O, S or —C(═O)—; -   M is —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —N(R2)—C(═O)—, —S(O)₀₋₂—, —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—,     —N(R2)—S(O)₀₋₂—, —O—C(═O)—;     and the physiologically compatible salts thereof.

Very particular preference is given to compounds of the formula Ia,

in which

-   R is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₅)-alkyloxy, (C₁-C₅)-alkylthio,     (C₁-C₅)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₈)-alkylamino,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl, a bicyclic (C₈-C₁₄) ring     system,     -   where aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl or the bicyclic         (C₈-C₁₄) ring system may be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen,         (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,         di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, mono-(C₁-C₆)-alkylamino-carbonyl,         di-(C₂-C₈)-alkylaminocarbonyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl,         trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl; -   R1 is (C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyloxy, amino,     mono-(C₁-C₁₀)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino,     -   where alkyl may be substituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl,         (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, —(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl,         —(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl, —(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl or         —(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl,         -   where aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl may each             optionally be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen,             (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,             (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,             di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino; -   R2 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl; -   R3 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,     (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,     di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, halogen,     trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl,     aminosulfonyl; -   A is S, C(R3)=C(R3); -   B is C(R3); -   D is N; -   L is a bond, —C(═O)—, —C(═S)—, —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —C(═O)—O—, —S(O)₀₋₂—,     —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—, a mono- or bicyclic ring system in which one or     more ring members may be N(R3), O, S or —C(═O)—; -   M is —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —N(R2)—C(═O)—, —S(O)₀₋₂—, —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—,     —N(R2)—S(O)₀₋₂—, —O—C(═O)—;     and the physiologically compatible salts thereof.

Even more particular preference is given to compounds of the formula Ia

in which

-   R is (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₅)-alkyloxy,     (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl, a bicyclic (C₈-C₁₄) ring system,     -   where aryl or the bicyclic (C₈-C₁₄) ring system may be mono- or         poly-substituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy,         hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,         di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, mono-(C₁-C₆)-alkylaminocarbonyl,         di-(C₂-C₈)-alkylamino-carbonyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl,         trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl; -   R1 is (C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyloxy, amino,     mono-(C₁-C₁₀)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino,     -   where alkyl may be substituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl,         (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino,         (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, —(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl,         —(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl, —(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl or         —(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl,         -   where aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl may each             optionally be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen,             (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,             (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,             di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino; -   R2 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl; -   R3 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl,     (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino,     di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, halogen,     trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl,     aminosulfonyl; -   A is S, C(R3)═C(R3); -   B is C(R3); -   D is N; -   L is a bond, —C(═O)—; -   M is —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —O—C(═O)—;     and the physiologically compatible salts thereof.

In one embodiment, preference is given to compounds of the formula I in which n in each case is equal to 1.

In one embodiment, preference is given to compounds of the formula I in which L is C═O.

In one embodiment, preference is given to compounds of the formula I in which M is —C(═O)—N(R2).

In one embodiment, preference is given to compounds of the formula I in which: A is S, D is N and B is CH.

In one embodiment, preference is given to compounds of the formula I in which: A is C(R3)═C(R3), D is N and B is CH.

In one embodiment, preference is given to compounds of the formula I in which: A is CH═CH, D is N and B is CH.

In one embodiment, preference is given to compounds of the formula I in which: A is C(R3)═C(R3), D is N and B is N.

In one embodiment, preference is given to compounds of the formula I in which: A is CH═CH, D is N and B is N.

The invention relates to compounds of the formula I in the form of their salts, racemates, racemic mixtures and pure enantiomers, and their diastereomers and mixtures thereof.

The alkyl radicals in the substituents R, R1, R2 and R3 may either be straight-chain or branched.

Halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, especially fluorine or chlorine.

Aryl is a monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical which has from 6 to 10 ring atoms and may independently be substituted by from one to four, preferably one or two, substituents described.

Heteroaryl is a monocyclic or bicyclic radical which has from 5 to 12 ring atoms and at least one aromatic ring having one, two or three ring heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, where the remaining ring atoms are C.

Cycloalkyl is a saturated or partly unsaturated ring system (which contains exclusively carbon atoms) which comprises one or more rings.

Heterocyclyl is a saturated or partly unsaturated ring system (which contains a heteroatom) which comprises one or more rings.

Bicyclyl is a bicyclic saturated or partly unsaturated ring system, where the individual members of the ring systems may contain exclusively carbon atoms or one, two or three ring heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, the remaining ring atoms being C. One of the rings in the bicyclic system may also be a fused aromatic ring such as benzene.

When radicals or substituents may occur more than once in the compounds of the formula I (for example “n”), they may all independently be defined as specified and be the same or different.

Owing to their higher water solubility compared to the starting compounds or base compounds, physiologically compatible salts are particularly suitable for medical applications. These salts must have a physiologically compatible anion or cation. Suitable physiologically compatible acid addition salts of the inventive compounds are salts of inorganic acids, such as sulfuric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid, nitric acid, sulfonic acid and sulfuric acid, and also organic acids, for example acetic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, ethanesulfonic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, glycolic acid, isethionic acid, lactic acid, lactobionic acid, maleic acid, malic acid, methanesulfonic acid, succinic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and tartaric acid. For medical purposes, particular preference is given to using the chlorine salt. Suitable physiologically compatible basic salts are ammonium salts, alkalimetal salts (such as sodium and potassium salts), alkaline earth metal salts (such as magnesium and calcium salts), zinc salts, trometamol (2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol) salts, diethanolamine salts, lysine salts, arginine salts, choline salts, meglumine salts or ethylenediamine salts.

Salts with a physiologically incompatible anion or cation are likewise within the scope of the invention as useful intermediates for the preparation or purification of physiologically compatible salts and/or for use in nontherapeutic applications, for example in vitro applications.

The inventive compounds may also be present in different polymorphic forms, for example as amorphous and crystalline polymorphic forms. All polymorphic forms of the inventive compounds are within the scope of the invention and are a further aspect of the invention.

Hereinafter, all references to “compound(s) of the formula I” refer to compound(s) of the formula I as described above, and salts thereof as described herein.

The compounds of the formula I and their physiologically compatible are ideal medicaments for treatment of elevated lipid concentrations in the blood and in tissue, metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, disregulation of LDL, HLD and VLDL, or cardiovascular disorders, lipid metabolism disorders, especially of hyperlipidemia.

The compound(s) of the formula I may also be administered in combination with further active ingredients.

The amount of a compound of the formula I which is required in order to achieve the desired biological effect is dependent on a series of factors, for example the selected specific compound, the intended use, the method of administration and the clinical condition of the patient. In general, the daily dose is in the range from 0.1 mg to 100 mg (typically from 0.1 mg to 50 mg) per day per kilogram of bodyweight, e.g. 0.1-10 mg/kg/day. Tablets or capsules may, for example, contain from 0.01 to 100 mg, typically from 0.02 to 50 mg. For prophylaxis or therapy of the conditions mentioned above, the compounds of the formula I may themselves be used as the compound, but they are preferably present in the form of a pharmaceutical composition with a compatible carrier. The carrier must of course be compatible, in the sense that it is compatible with the other constituents of the composition and is not harmful to the health of the patient. The carrier may be a solid or liquid or both and is preferably formulated with the compound as an individual dose, for example as a tablet, which may contain from 0.05% to 95% by weight of the active ingredient. Further pharmaceutically active substances may likewise be present, including further compounds of the formula I. The inventive pharmaceutical compositions may be produced by one of the known pharmaceutical methods, which consist essentially in mixing the constituents with pharmacologically compatible carriers and/or assistants.

Inventive pharmaceutical compositions are those which are suitable for oral and peroral (for example sublingual) administration, although the most suitable mode of administration depends in each individual case on the nature and severity of the condition to be treated and on the type of the compound of formula I used in each case. Coated formulations and coated slow-release formulations are also encompassed by the scope of the invention. Preference is given to acid- and gastric fluid-resistant formulations. Suitable gastric fluid-resistant coatings include cellulose acetate phthalate, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate and anionic polymers of methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate.

Suitable pharmaceutical compounds for oral administration may be in the form of separate units, for example capsules, cachets, lozenges or tablets, each of which contains a certain amount of the compound of the formula I; as powder or granules; as solution or suspension in an aqueous or nonaqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion. These compositions may, as already mentioned, be prepared by any suitable pharmaceutical method which includes a step in which the active ingredient and the carrier (which may consist of one or more additional constituents) are brought into contact. In general, the compositions are prepared by uniform and homogeneous mixing of the active ingredient with a liquid carrier and/or finely divided solid carrier, after which the product is shaped if necessary. For example, a tablet can thus be produced by compressing or shaping a powder or granules of the compound, optionally with one or more additional constituents. Compressed tablets can be prepared by tableting the compound in free-flowing form, for example a powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent and/or one (or more) surfactants/dispersants in a suitable machine. Shaped tablets can be prepared by shaping the pulverulent compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent in a suitable machine.

Pharmaceutical compositions which are suitable for peroral (sublingual) administration include lozenges which contain a compound of formula I with a flavoring, customarily sucrose, and gum arabic or tragacanth, and pastilles which include the compound in an inert base, such as gelatin and glycerol or sucrose and gum arabic.

Combinations with other medicaments

The inventive compounds can be administered alone or in combination with one or more further pharmacologically active ingredients which have, for example, favorable effects on metabolic disturbances or disorders frequently associated therewith. Examples of such medicaments are

-   -   1. medicaments which lower blood glucose, antidiabetics,     -   2. active ingredients for the treatment of dyslipidemias,     -   3. antiatherosclerotic medicaments,     -   4. antiobesity agents,     -   5. antiinflammatory active ingredients     -   6. active ingredients for the treatment of malignant tumors     -   7. antithrombotic active ingredients     -   8. active ingredients for the treatment of high blood pressure     -   9. active ingredients for the treatment of heart failure and     -   10. active ingredients for the treatment and/or prevention of         complications caused by diabetes or associated with diabetes.

They can be combined with the inventive compounds of the formula I, in particular for a synergistic improvement in the effect. Administration of the active ingredient combination can take place either by separate administration of the active ingredients to the patient or in the form of combination products in which a plurality of active ingredients are present in one pharmaceutical preparation.

Suitable further active ingredients for the combination products are especially:

All antidiabetics which are mentioned in the Rote Liste 2006, Chapter 12; all slimming agents/appetite suppressants which are mentioned in the Rote Liste 2005, Chapter 1; all lipid reducers which are mentioned in the Rote Liste 2006, Chapter 58. They can be combined with the inventive compound of the formula I especially for synergistic improvement of action. The active ingredient combination can be administered either by separate addition of the active ingredients to the patient or in the form of combination preparations in which a plurality of active ingredients are present in a pharmaceutical formulation. Most of the active ingredients mentioned below are disclosed in USP Dictionary of USAN and International Drug Names, US Pharmacopeia, Rockville 2001.

Antidiabetics include insulin and insulin derivatives, for example LANTUS® (see www.lantus.com) or HMR 1964 or those as described in WO 2005005477 (Novo Nordisk), fast-acting insulins (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,633), inhalable insulins, for example EXUBERA®, or oral insulins, for example IN-105 (Nobex) or ORAL-LYN™ (Generex Biotechnology), GLP-1 derivatives, for example exenatide, liraglutide or those which have been disclosed in WO 98/08871, WO2005027978 by Novo Nordisk A/S, in WO 01/04156 by Zealand or in WO 00/34331 by Beaufour-Ipsen, pramlintide acetate (SYMLIN® Amylin Pharmaceuticals), and orally active hypoglycemic ingredients.

The orally active hypoglycemic ingredients preferably include sulfonylureas, biguanidines, meglitinides, oxadiazolidinediones, thiazolidinediones, glucosidase inhibitors, inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase, glucagon antagonists, glucokinase activators, inhibitors of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, modulators of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), inhibitors of glutamine: fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT), GLP-1 agonists, potassium channel openers, for example those which have been disclosed in WO 97/26265 and WO 99/03861 by Novo Nordisk A/S, inhibitors of dipeptidylpeptidase-IV (DPP-IV), insulin sensitizers, inhibitors of liver enzymes which are involved in the stimulation of gluconeogenesis and/or glycogenolysis, modulators of glucose uptake, of glucose transport and of glucose reabsorption, inhibitors of 11β-HSD1, inhibitors of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), modulators of the sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 or 2 (SGLT1, SGLT2), lipid metabolism-modifying compounds, such as active antihyperlipidemic ingredients and active antilipidemic ingredients, compounds which reduce nutrient intake, compounds which increase thermogenesis, PPAR and RXR modulators and active ingredients which act on the ATP-dependent potassium channel of the beta cells.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula I are administered in combination with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor such as simvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, atorvastatin, cerivastatin, rosuvastatin, L-659699.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, for example ezetimibe, tiqueside, pamaqueside, FM-VP4 (sitostanol/campesterol ascorbyl phosphate; Forbes Medi-Tech, WO2005042692), MD-0727 (Microbia Inc., WO2005021497, or with compounds as described in WO2002066464 (Kotobuki Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.) or WO2005062824 (Merck & Co.) or WO2005061451 and WO2005061452 (AstraZeneca AB).

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a PPAR gamma agonist, for example rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, JTT-501, GI 262570, R-483, CS-011 (rivoglitazone).

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a PPAR alpha agonist, for example GW9578, GW-590735, K-111, LY-674, KRP-101, DRF-10945.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a mixed PPAR alpha/gamma agonist, for example muraglitazar, tesaglitazar, naveglitazar, LY-510929, ONO-5129, E-3030, AVE 8042, AVE 8134, AVE 0847, or as described in PCT/US00/11833, PCT/US00/11490, DE10142734.4 or in J.P. Berger et al., TRENDS in Pharmacological Sciences 28(5), 244-251, 2005.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a PPAR delta agonist, for example GW-501516.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with metaglidasen or with MBX-2044 or other partial PPAR gamma agonists/antagonists

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a fibrate, for example fenofibrate, clofibrate, bezafibrate.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an MTP inhibitor, for example implitapide, BMS-201038, R-103757, or those as described in WO2005085226.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a CETP inhibitor, for example torcetrapib or JTT-705.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with bile acid absorption inhibitors (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,744, U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,897 or WO00/61568), for example HMR 1741, or those as described in DE 10 2005 033099.1 and DE 10 2005 033100.9.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a polymeric bile acid adsorber, for example cholestyramine, colesevelam.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an LDL receptor inducer (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,512), for example HMR1171, HMR1586, or those as described in WO2005097738.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with OMACOR® (omega-3 fatty acids; highly concentrated ethyl esters of eicosapentaenoic acid and of docosahexaenoic acid).

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an ACAT inhibitor, for example avasimibe.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an antioxidant, for example OPC-14117, probucol, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, β-carotene or selenium.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a vitamin, for example vitamin B6 or vitamin B12.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a lipoprotein lipase modulator, for example ibrolipim (NO-1886).

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an ATP-citrate lyase inhibitor, for example SB-204990.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a squalene synthetase inhibitor, for example BMS-188494, or as described in WO2005077907.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a lipoprotein(a) antagonist, for example gemcabene (CI-1027).

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an HM74A receptor agonist, for example nicotinic acid.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a lipase inhibitor, for example orlistat or cetilistat (ATL-962).

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with insulin.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a sulfonylurea, for example tolbutamide, glibenclamide, glipizide or glimepiride.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a biguanide, for example metformin.

In another embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a meglitinide, for example repaglinide or nateglinide.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with a thiazolidinedione, for example troglitazone, ciglitazone, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, or the compounds disclosed in WO 97/41097 of Dr. Reddy's Research Foundation, especially 5-[[4-[(3,4-dihydro-3-methyl-4-oxo-2-quinazolinylmethoxy]phenyl]methyl]-2,4-thiazolidinedione.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an α-glucosidase inhibitor, for example miglitol or acarbose.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an active ingredient which acts on the ATP-dependent potassium channel of the beta cells, for example tolbutamide, glibenclamide, glipizide, glimepiride or repaglinide.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with more than one of the aforementioned compounds, for example in combination with a sulfonylurea and metformin, a sulfonylurea and acarbose, repaglinide and metformin, insulin and a sulfonylurea, insulin and metformin, insulin and troglitazone, insulin and lovastatin, etc.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an inhibitor of glycogen phosphorylase, for example PSN-357 or FR-258900, or those as described in WO2003084922, WO2004007455, WO2005073229-31, WO2005067932.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with glucagon receptor antagonists, for example A-770077 or NNC-25-2504, or as described in WO2004100875, WO2005065680.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with activators of glucokinase, for example LY-2121260 (WO2004063179), PSN-105, PSN-110, GKA-50, or those as described, for example, in WO2004072031 or WO2004072066 or WO2005080360.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an inhibitor of gluconeogenesis, for example FR-225654.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with inhibitors of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), for example CS-917.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with modulators of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), for example KST-48 (D.-O. Lee et al.: Arzneim.-Forsch. Drug Res. 54 (12), 835 (2004)).

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with inhibitors of glutamine: fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT), as described, for example, in WO2004101528.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with inhibitors of dipeptidylpeptidase-IV (DPP-IV), for example vildagliptin (LAF-237), sitagliptin (MK-0431), saxagliptin (BMS-477118), GSK-823093, PSN-9301, SYR-322, SYR-619, TA-6666, TS-021, GRC-8200, GW-825964X, or as described in WO2003074500, WO2003106456, WO200450658, WO2005058901, WO2005012312, WO2005/012308, PCT/EP2005/007821, PCT/EP2005/008005, PCT/EP2005/008002, PCT/EP2005/008004, PCT/EP2005/008283, DE 10 2005 012874.2 or DE 10 2005 012873.4.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with inhibitors of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1), for example BVT-2733, or those as described, for example, in WO200190090-94, WO200343999, WO2004112782, WO200344000, WO200344009, WO2004112779, WO2004113310, WO2004103980, WO2004112784, WO2003065983, WO2003104207, WO2003104208, WO2004106294, WO2004011410, WO2004033427, WO2004041264, WO2004037251, WO2004056744, WO2004065351, WO2004089367, WO2004089380, WO2004089470-71, WO2004089896, WO2005016877, WO2005097759.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with inhibitors of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), as described, for example, in WO200119830-31, WO200117516, WO2004506446, WO2005012295, WO2005116003, WO2005116003, WO2006007959, DE 10 2004 060542.4, WO2007009911, WO2007028145, WO2007067612-615, WO2007081755, WO2007115058.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with modulators of the sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 or 2 (SGLT1, SGLT2), for example KGA-2727, T-1095, SGL-0010, AVE 2268 and SAR 7226, or as described, for example, in WO2004007517, WO200452903, WO200452902, PCT/EP2005/005959, WO2005085237, JP2004359630, or by A. L. Handlon in Expert Opin. Ther. Patents (2005) 15(11), 1531-1540.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with modulators of GPR40.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with inhibitors of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), as described, for example, in WO2005073199.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), for example those as described in WO199946262, WO200372197, WO2003072197, WO2005044814.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an inhibitor of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), for example those as described in WO2004074288.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3 beta), as described, for example, in US2005222220, WO2005085230, PCT/EP2005/005346, WO2003078403, WO2004022544, WO2003106410, WO2005058908, US2005038023, WO2005009997, US2005026984, WO2005000836, WO2004106343, EP1460075, WO2004014910, WO2003076442, WO2005087727, WO2004046117.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an inhibitor of protein kinase C beta (PKC beta), for example ruboxistaurin.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with an endothelin A receptor antagonist, for example avosentan (SPP-301).

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with inhibitors of “I-kappaB kinase” (IKK inhibitors), as described, for example, in WO2001000610, WO2001030774, WO2004022553, WO2005097129.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with modulators of the glucocorticoid receptor, as described, for example, in WO2005090336.

In a further embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with CART modulators (see “Cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript influences energy metabolism, anxiety and gastric emptying in mice” Asakawa, A. et al.: Hormone and Metabolic Research (2001), 33(9), 554-558);

-   NPY antagonists, for example     N-{4-[(4-aminoquinazolin-2-ylamino)methyl]cyclohexylmethyl}naphthalene-1-sulfonamide     hydrochloride (CGP 71683A); -   peptide YY 3-36 (PYY3-36) or analogous compounds, for example     CJC-1682 (PYY3-36 conjugated to human serum albumin via Cys34) or     CJC-1643 (derivative of PYY3-36, which is conjugated to serum     albumin in vivo) or those as described in WO2005080424; -   cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonists (for example rimonabant,     SR147778, or those as described, for example, in EP 0656354, WO     00/15609, WO 02/076949, WO2005080345, WO2005080328, WO2005080343,     WO2005075450, WO2005080357, WO200170700, WO2003026647-48,     WO200302776, WO2003040107, WO2003007887, WO2003027069, U.S. Pat. No.     6,509,367, WO200132663, WO2003086288, WO2003087037, WO2004048317,     WO2004058145, WO2003084930, WO2003084943, WO2004058744,     WO2004013120, WO2004029204, WO2004035566, WO2004058249,     WO2004058255, WO2004058727, WO2004069838, US20040214837,     US20040214855, US20040214856, WO2004096209, WO2004096763,     WO2004096794, WO2005000809, WO2004099157, US20040266845,     WO2004110453, WO2004108728, WO2004000817, WO2005000820,     US20050009870, WO200500974, WO2004111033-34, WO200411038-39,     WO2005016286, WO2005007111, WO2005007628, US20050054679,     WO2005027837, WO2005028456, WO2005063761-62, WO2005061509,     WO2005077897); -   MC4 agonists (e.g.     N-[2-(3a-benzyl-2-methyl-3-oxo-2,3,3a,4,6,7-hexahydropyrazolo-[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl]-1-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-carboxamide     (WO 01/91752)) or LB53280, LB53279, LB53278 or THIQ, MB243, RY764,     CHIR-785, PT-141 or those as described in WO2005060985,     WO2005009950, WO2004087159, WO2004078717, WO2004078716,     WO2004024720, US20050124652, WO2005051391, WO2004112793,     WOUS20050222014, US20050176728, US20050164914, US20050124636,     US20050130988, US20040167201, WO2004005324, WO2004037797,     WO2005042516, WO2005040109, WO2005030797, US20040224901,     WO200501921, WO200509184, WO2005000339, EP1460069, WO2005047253,     WO2005047251, EP1538159, WO2004072076, WO2004072077; -   orexin receptor antagonists (e.g.     1-(2-methylbenzoxazol-6-yl)-3-[1,5]naphthyridin-4-ylurea     hydrochloride (SB-334867-A) or those as described, for example, in     WO200196302, WO200185693, WO2004085403, WO2005075458); -   histamine H3 receptor agonists (e.g.     3-cyclohexyl-1-(4,4-dimethyl-1,4,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-5-yl)propan-1-one     oxalic acid salt (WO 00/63208) or those as described in WO200064884,     WO2005082893); -   CRF antagonists (e.g.     [2-methyl-9-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-9H-1,3,9-triazafluoren-4-yl]-dipropylamine     (WO 00/66585)); -   CRF BP antagonists (e.g. urocortin); -   urocortin agonists; -   β3 agonists (for example     1-(4-chloro-3-methanesulfonylmethylphenyl)-2-[2-(2,3-dimethyl-1H-indol-6-yloxy)ethylamino]ethanol     hydrochloride (WO 01/83451)); -   MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone) agonists; -   MCH (melanine-concentrating hormone) receptor antagonists (for     example NBI-845, A-761, A-665798, A-798, ATC-0175, T-226296, T-71,     GW-803430 or those compounds as described in WO2003/15769,     WO2005085200, WO2005019240, WO2004011438, WO2004012648,     WO2003015769, WO2004072025, WO2005070898, WO2005070925,     WO2004039780, WO2003033476, WO2002006245, WO2002002744,     WO2003004027, FR2868780); -   CCK-A agonists (for example     {2-[4-(4-chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-(2-cyclohexylethyl)thiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl]-5,7-dimethylindol-1-yl}acetic     acid trifluoroacetic acid salt (WO 99/15525) or SR-146131     (WO 0244150) or SSR-125180); -   serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. dexfenfluramine); -   mixed serotoninergic and noradrenergic compounds (e.g. WO 00/71549); -   5-HT receptor agonists, e.g. 1-(3-ethylbenzofuran-7-yl)piperazine     oxalic acid salt (WO 01/09111); -   5-HT2C receptor agonists (for example APD-356 or BVT-933 or those as     described in WO200077010, WO20077001-02, WO2005019180, WO2003064423,     WO200242304, WO2005082859); -   5-HT6 receptor antagonists, as described, for example, in     WO2005058858; -   bombesin receptor agonists (BRS-3 agonists); -   galanin receptor antagonists; -   growth hormone (e.g. human growth hormone or AOD-9604); -   growth hormone-releasing compounds     (6-benzyloxy-1-(2-diisopropylaminoethylcarbamoyl)-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinoline-2-carboxylic     acid tert-butyl ester (WO 01/85695)); -   growth hormone secretagogue receptor antagonists (ghrelin     antagonists), for example A-778193 or those as described in     WO2005030734; -   TRH agonists (see, for example EP 0 462 884); -   decoupling protein 2- or 3-modulators; -   leptin agonists (see, for example, Lee, Daniel W.; Leinung, Matthew     C.; Rozhavskaya-Arena, Marina; Grasso, Patricia. Leptin agonists as     a potential approach to the treatment of obesity. -   Drugs of the Future (2001), 26(9), 873-881); -   DA agonists (bromocriptin, doprexin); -   lipase/amylase inhibitors (e.g. WO 00/40569); -   inhibitors of diacylglycerol O-acyltransferases (DGATs), as     described, for example, in US2004/0224997, WO2004094618,     WO200058491, WO2005044250, WO2005072740, JP2005206492, WO2005013907; -   inhibitors of fatty acid synthase (FAS), for example C75 or those as     described in WO2004005277; -   oxyntomodulin; -   oleoyl-estrone;

or agonists of the thyroid hormone receptor (thyroid hormone receptor agonists), for example:

KB-2115 or those as described in WO20058279, WO200172692, WO200194293, WO2003084915, WO2004018421, WO2005092316.

In one embodiment of the invention, the further active ingredient is leptin;

see, for example, “Perspectives in the therapeutic use of leptin”, Salvador, Javier; Gomez-Ambrosi, Javier; Fruhbeck, Gema, Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy (2001), 2(10), 1615-1622.

In one embodiment, the further active ingredient is dexamphetamine or amphetamine.

In one embodiment, the further active ingredient is fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine.

In another embodiment, the further active ingredient is sibutramine.

In one embodiment, the further active ingredient is mazindole or phentermin.

In one embodiment, the compound of the formula I is administered in combination with dietary fiber, preferably insoluble dietary fiber (see, for example, CAROB/CAROMAX® (Zunft H J; et al., Carob pulp preparation for treatment of hypercholesterolemia, ADVANCES IN THERAPY (2001 September-October), 18(5), 230-6.) Caromax is a carob-containing product from Nutrinova, Nutrition Specialties & Food Ingredients GmbH, Industriepark Höchst, 65926 Frankfurt/Main)). The combination with CAROMAX® can be effected in one formulation, or by separate administration of compounds of the formula I and CAROMAX®. CAROMAX® can also be administered in the form of foods, for example in bakery products or muesli bars.

It will be appreciated that any suitable combination of the inventive compounds with one or more of the aforementioned compounds and optionally one or more further pharmacologically active substances is considered to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

The invention further provides both stereoisomer mixtures of the formula I and the pure stereoisomers of the formula I, and also diastereomer mixtures of the formula I and the pure diastereomers. The mixtures are separated by a chromatographic method.

The examples which follow serve to illustrate the invention in detail, without restricting it to the products and embodiments described in the examples.

The efficacy of the inventive compounds of the formula I was tested with microsomal enzymes in the following assay system:

The livers of male Wistar rats which (to induce the expression of SCD1) had been fed with a carbohydrate-rich, low-fat diet were homogenized with a Potter tissue homogenizer and differential centrifugation in a buffer which contained 250 mM/l of sucrose and 5 mM/l of HEPES (pH 7.0). The resuspended microsome fraction was stored at −80° C. The stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity was determined in a thin-film chromatography assay with 1-¹⁴C-labeled stearic acid. In short, the particular inventive compounds (in DMSO in a final concentration of 1% [v/v]) were incubated with 15 μg of the rat liver microsomes in 200 μl of assay buffer (6 mM/l of MgCl₂, 250 mM/l of sucrose, 150 mM/l of KCl, 40 mM/l of NaF, 100 mM/l of Na₂HPO₄ (pH7.4), 1.3 mM/l of ATP, 1.5 mM/l of reduced glutathione, 60 uM/l of CoA, 0.33 mM/l of nicotinamide and 0.94 mM/l of NADH) at room temperature for 10 min. 0.5 μCi [1-¹⁴C]-stearic acid (55 mCi/mmol) was added, and the mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 1 h. The radioactively labeled fatty acids were subsequently hydrolyzed at 65° C. with 2.5 M KOH/MeOH:H₂O (4:1) for 4 h, protonated with 280 μl of formic acid and extracted with 500 μl of hexane. The TLC plates were immersed into 10% AgNO₃ and heat-activated before use. 150 μl of the hexane phase were applied to the plates, and the TLC plates were developed in buffer (chloroform:methanol:acetic acid:water [90:8:1:0.8]) and dried. The plates were read off in a phosphoimager to quantify the SCD1 activity.

The person skilled in the art can modify this assay in various aspects to determine the inhibition of the stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity. Representative inventive compounds like those described in the examples showed, when tested in this assay at a concentration of 10 μM/l, activity as inhibitors of SCD1, which is reported as inhibition of SCD1 activity in percent.

TABLE 2 Biological activity Ex. % Inhibition (10 μM) 1 65 2 31 9 26 10 100 13 100 14 100 15 100 16 100 17 97 18 38 19 100 20 100 21 100 22 100

The compounds of the formula I inhibit the SCD1 activity and are therefore very suitable for treating metabolic disorders, obesity and metabolic syndrome (Hulver et al. Cell Metabolism (2005), 2(4), 251-261 and Warensjoe et al. Diabetologia (2005), 48(10), 1999-2005).

Owing to the inhibition of the SCD activity, the compounds of the formula I can also be used for treatment or prevention of further diseases mediated by SCD or a condition mediated by SCD in a mammal, preferably a human.

The compounds of the present invention are suitable especially for treatment and/or prevention of:

-   1. Obesity, especially visceral (abdominal) obesity -   2. Disorders of fatty acid metabolism and glucose utilization     disorders     -   Disorders in which insulin resistance is involved -   3. Diabetes mellitus, especially type 2 diabetes, including the     prevention of the sequelae associated therewith.     -   Particular aspects in this connection are     -   hyperglycemia,     -   improvement in insulin resistance,     -   improvement in glucose tolerance,     -   protection of the pancreatic β cells     -   prevention of macro- and microvascular disorders -   4. Dyslipidemias and their sequelae such as, for example,     atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disorders     etc, especially those (but not restricted thereto) which are     characterized by one or more of the following factors:     -   high plasma triglyceride concentrations, high postprandial         plasma triglyceride concentrations,     -   low HDL cholesterol concentration     -   low apoA lipoprotein concentrations     -   high LDL cholesterol concentrations     -   small dense LDL cholesterol particles     -   high apoB lipoprotein concentrations     -   desaturation index (e.g. ratio 18:1/18:0n-9, 16:1/16:0 n-7 or         18:1n-9+16:1n-7/16:0 fatty acids) -   5. Various other conditions which may be associated with the     metabolic syndrome or syndrome X, such as:     -   increased abdominal girth     -   dyslipidemia (e.g. hypertriglyceridemia and/or low HDL)     -   insulin resistance     -   hypercoagulability     -   hyperuricemia     -   microalbuminemia     -   thromboses, hypercoagulable and prothrombotic states (arterial         and venous)     -   high blood pressure     -   heart failure such as, for example (but not restricted thereto),         following myocardial infarction, hypertensive heart disease or         cardiomyopathy -   6. Hepatic disorders and conditions related thereto     -   fatty liver     -   hepatic steatosis     -   non-alcoholic hepatitis     -   non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)     -   alcoholic hepatitis     -   acute fatty liver     -   fatty liver of pregnancy     -   drug-induced hepatitis     -   iron overload disorders     -   hepatic fibrosis     -   hepatic cirrhosis     -   hepatoma     -   viral hepatitis -   7. Skin disorders and conditions and those associated with     polyunsaturated fatty acids     -   eczema     -   acne     -   psoriasis     -   keloid scar formation or prevention     -   other diseases related to mucous membrane fatty acid composition -   8. Primary hypertriglyceridemia or secondary hypertriglyceridemias     following     -   familial histiocytic reticulosis     -   lipoprotein lipase deficiency     -   hyperlipoproteinemias     -   apolipoprotein deficiency (e.g. apoCII or apoE deficiency) -   9. Diseases or conditions related to neoplastic cellular     proliferation     -   benign or malignant tumors     -   cancer     -   neoplasia     -   metastases     -   carcinogenesis -   10. Diseases or conditions related to neurological, psychiatric or     immune disorders or conditions -   11. Other diseases or conditions in which inflammatory reactions,     and/or other cell differentiation aspects mediated by SCD may for     example be involved are:     -   atherosclerosis such as, for example (but not restricted         thereto), coronary sclerosis including angina pectoris or         myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemic stroke and transient         ischemic attack (TIA)     -   peripheral occlusive disease     -   vascular restenosis or reocclusion     -   chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as, for example,         Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis     -   pancreatitis     -   sinusitis     -   other inflammatory conditions     -   retinopathy, ischemic retinopathy     -   adipose cell tumors     -   lipomatous carcinomas such as, for example, liposarcomas     -   solid tumors and neoplasms such as, for example (but not         restricted thereto), carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract,         of the liver, of the biliary tract and of the pancreas,         endocrine tumors, carcinomas of the lungs, of the kidneys and         the urinary tract, of the genital tract, prostate carcinomas etc     -   acute and chronic myeloproliferative disorders and lymphomas     -   angiogenesis     -   neurodegenerative disorders     -   Alzheimer's disease     -   multiple sclerosis     -   Parkinson's disease     -   erythemato-squamous dermatoses such as, for example, psoriasis     -   acne vulgaris     -   other skin disorders and dermatological conditions which are         modulated by PPAR     -   eczemas and neurodermatitis     -   dermatitis such as, for example, seborrheic dermatitis or         photodermatitis     -   keratitis and keratoses such as, for example, seborrheic         keratoses, senile keratoses, actinic keratosis, photo-induced         keratoses or keratosis follicularis     -   keloids and keloid prophylaxis     -   warts, including condylomata or condylomata acuminata     -   human papilloma viral (HPV) infections such as, for example,         venereal papillomata, viral warts such as, for example,         molluscum contagiosum, leukoplakia     -   papular dermatoses such as, for example, lichen planus     -   skin cancer such as, for example, basal-cell carcinomas,         melanomas or cutaneous T-cell lymphomas     -   localized benign epidermal tumors such as, for example,         keratoderma, epidermal naevi     -   chilblains     -   high blood pressure     -   syndrome X     -   polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)     -   asthma     -   cystic fibrosis     -   osteoarthritis     -   lupus erythematosus (LE) or inflammatory rheumatic disorders         such as, for example, rheumatoid arthritis     -   vasculitis     -   wasting (cachexia)     -   gout     -   ischemia/reperfusion syndrome     -   acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)     -   viral diseases and infections     -   lypodystrophy and lipodystrophic conditions, also for treating         adverse drug effects (e.g. after taking medicaments for treating         HIV or tumors)     -   myopathies and lipid myopathies (such as carnitine         palmitoyltransferase I or II deficiency)

Development of muscles and a slim body or muscle mass formation in animal husbandry and in humans

Preparation

The inventive compounds of the general formula I are prepared by processes known per se in the literature and are obtainable by the following methods, in which the radicals are each defined as follows:

The halogen atom in the heterocycle unit (II) has been replaced by exchange with the amine unit, and then, for example, the M-R1 group can be modified further. If M-R1 is an ester group, it can be hydrolyzed and the carboxylic acids thus obtained can be coupled to amines. In order to modify the L-R group of the amine unit, the reaction sequence is suitably modified, and a combined component (IV) is synthesized, and the different substituents are introduced in the last step.

Since acids are usually released in these reactions, it is advantageous for acceleration to add bases such as pyridine, triethylamine, sodium hydroxide solution or alkali metal carbonates. The reactions can be carried out within wide temperature ranges. It has been found to be advantageous to work at temperatures from 0° C. up to the boiling point of the solvent used. Examples of solvents used are methylene chloride, THF, DMF, toluene, ethyl acetate, n-heptane, dioxane, diethyl ether or pyridine. Under anhydrous conditions, strong bases such as lithium hydride, sodium hydride or potassium tert-butoxide in aprotic solvents such as THF or DMF have also been found to be suitable.

The compounds used as starting materials are commercially available or can be prepared by processes known from the literature; 2-substituted thiazole-4-carboxylic esters, for example, can be synthesized by cyclocondensing the corresponding carbothioamides with BrCH₂COCO₂Et (analogously to Sandoz-Patent-GmbH, DE 3443698). An alternative method is the substitution of the bromine atom of ethyl 2-bromo-4-thiazolecarboxylate by amino derivatives (analogously to R. A. Stokbroekx, G. A. J. Grauwels, M. Willems, EP 398425; K. Schiemann, H. Boettcher, H. T. Henning; G. Hoelzemann, C. van Amsterdam, G. Bartoszyk, J. Leibrock, C. Seyfried, WO 2004041815). The corresponding 5-substituted derivatives can be obtained analogously (see K. Anandan, X. Xiao, D. V. Patel, J. S. Ward, US 2005250784).

The compounds of the general formula I are isolated from the reaction mixture and purified by processes known per se, such as extraction, crystallization or chromatography. The examples adduced below serve to illustrate the invention, but without restricting it. The identity of the compounds was checked by mass spectrometry.

EXAMPLE 1 Ethyl 2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxylate

1a: Ethyl 2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxylate; trifluoroacetate

To 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole dihydrobromide (1.15 g, 4.24 mmol) and triethylamine (2.18 ml, 15.67 mmol) in 10 ml of DMF was added dropwise at 80° C. ethyl 2-bromothiazole-5-carboxylate (1 g, 4.24 mmol) in 3 ml of DMF. After 3 h at 80° C., the mixture was cooled, the solids were filtered off, and the filtrate was concentrated and purified by preparative HPLC (PR18, acetonitrile/water 0.1% TFA). Yield: 60 mg (4%), M+H+: 266.09.

1b: Ethyl 2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]-thiazole-5-carboxylate

2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl chloride (50.4 mg, 0.24 mmol) was added at RT to ethyl 2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxylate; trifluoroacetic acid salt (60 mg, 0.16 mmol) and triethylamine (64 μl, 0.46 mmol) in 4 ml of methylene chloride and 2 ml of pyridine. After 3 h at RT, the mixture was concentrated, water and ethyl acetate were added, and the organic phase was removed, concentrated by evaporation and purified by preparative HPLC (PR18, acetonitrile/water 0.1% TFA). Yield: 63 mg (91%), M+H+: 438.04.

EXAMPLE 2 N-(2-Cyclopropylethyl)-2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide

2a: 2-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxylic acid, lithium salt

Ethyl 2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]-thiazole-5-carboxylate (80 mg, 0.18 mmol) and lithium hydroxide hydrate (29 mg, 0.7 mmol) were stirred at room temperature in 10 ml of THF and 1 ml of water for 7 h, concentrated, admixed with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The water phase was freeze-dried and reacted further directly.

2b: N-(2-Cyclopropylethyl)-2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide

2-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxylic acid, lithium salt (88 mg, 0.212 mmol), 2-cyclopropylethylamine hydrochloride (38.7 mg, 0.318 mmol), triethylamine (126 μl, 0.92 mmol) and HATU (128 mg, 0.37 mmol) were stirred at room temperature for 2 h. The solvent was evaporated off and the residue was purified by preparative HPLC (PR18, acetonitrile/water, 0.1% TFA). Yield: 6 mg (6%), M+H+: 477.19.

EXAMPLE 3 N-(3-Methylbutyl)-2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide

3a: tert-Butyl 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate

1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole dihydrobromide (4.3 g, 15.82 mmol) are dissolved in 215 ml of water, and then sodium hydrogencarbonate (3.45 g , 41.07 mmol) is added. With stirring, di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (3.46 g, 15.85 mmol) in 40 ml of methanol is added, and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 4 h. The precipitated di-tert-butyl 4,6-dihydro-1H,3H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2,5-dicarboxylate solid is filtered off with suction, and the filtrate is concentrated and lyophilized. The crude product (contains approx. 2.3 g of product) is converted further directly.

3b: tert-Butyl 5-(5-ethoxycarbonylthiazol-2-yl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate

tert-Butyl 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate (1.2 g, 5.7 mmol), ethyl 2-bromothiazole-5-carboxylate (1.69 g, 7.17 mmol) and triethylamine (1.09 ml, 7.84 mmol) were stirred at 100° C. in 70 ml of DMF for 7 h. The residue was filtered off, the filtrate was concentrated and the remaining residue was extracted with ethyl acetate. 1.34 g of crude product were obtained, which were reacted without further purification (M+H+: 366.14).

3c: tert-Butyl 5-(5-carboxythiazol-2-yl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate

tert-Butyl 5-(5-ethoxycarbonylthiazol-2-yl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate (1.34 g, 3.66 mmol) and lithium hydroxide hydrate (385 mg, 9.17 mmol) were stirred in 150 ml of THF and 50 ml of water at 50° C. for 2 h and at 80° C. for 8 h. THF was concentrated under reduced pressure and the water phase was extracted with ethyl acetate. The water phase was acidified and extracted again with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was concentrated. Yield: 662 mg (53%), M+H+: 338.10.

3d: tert-Butyl 5-[5-(3-methylbutylcarbamoyl)thiazol-2-yl]-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate

tert-Butyl 5-(5-carboxythiazol-2-yl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate (186 mg, 0.55 mmol), isoamylamine (0.42 ml, 2.6 mmol), triethylamine (153 μl, 1.1 mmol) and HATU (209 mg, 0.55 mmol) were stirred at room temperature in 20 ml of DMF for 2 h. The solvent was evaporated off, and the residue was admixed with water and ethyl acetate. The organic phase was removed and concentrated, and the crude product was converted further directly. Yield: 225 mg, M+H+: 407.20.

3e: N-(3-methylbutyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide; trifluoroacetate

tert-Butyl 5-[5-(3-methylbutylcarbamoyl)thiazol-2-yl]-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate (225 mg, 0.55 mmol) was stirred at room temperature with 5 ml of water and 0.23 ml of trifluoroacetic acid for 3 h. After concentration, the residue is admixed with water and extracted with ethyl acetate, and the water phase is lyophilized. Yield: 440 mg of crude product, still contains excess of trifluoroacetic acid.

3f: N-(3-Methylbutyl)-2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide

N-(3-Methylbutyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide, trifluoroacetate (220 mg, 0.52 mmol) and triethylamine (0.22 ml, 1.57 mmol) were dissolved in 10 ml of DMF and admixed in an ice bath with 2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl chloride (218 mg, 1.04 mmol). The mixture was stirred further for 1 h and allowed to warm to room temperature, and concentrated, water and ethyl acetate were added and the organic phase was removed, concentrated and purified by preparative HPLC (PR18, acetonitrile/water 0.1% TFA). Yield: 25 mg (10%), M+H+: 479.06.

EXAMPLE 4 N-(cyclopropylmethyl)-2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide

N-(cyclopropyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide, trifluoroacetate (106 mg, 0.26 mmol) was reacted with 2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl chloride analogously to example 3f. M+H+: 463.05.

EXAMPLE 5 N-(3-methylbutyl)-2-(5-quinazolin-4-yl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)-thiazole-5-carboxamide

N-(3-Methylbutyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide, trifluoroacetate (220 mg, 0.52 mmol) and triethylamine (0.22 ml, 1.57 mmol) were dissolved in 10 ml of DMF and admixed in an ice bath with 4-chloroquinazoline (172 mg, 1 mmol). The mixture was stirred further for 1 h and allowed to warm to room temperature, and concentrated, water and ethyl acetate were added and the organic phase was removed, concentrated by evaporation and purified by preparative HPLC (PR18, acetonitrile/water 0.1% TFA). M+H+: 435.05.

EXAMPLE 6 N-(Cyclopropylmethyl)-2-(5-quinazolin-4-yl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide

N-(Cyclopropylmethyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide, trifluoroacetate (106 mg, 0.26 mmol) was reacted with 4-chloroquinazoline analogously to example 5. M+H+: 419.15.

EXAMPLE 7 tert-Butyl 5-[5-(3-phenylpropylcarbamoyl)thiazol-2-yl]-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrole-2-carboxylate

tert-Butyl 5-(5-carboxythiazol-2-yl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate was reacted with 3-phenylpropylyamine analogously to example 3d. Yield: 91%, M+H+: 455.26.

EXAMPLE 8 N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-(5-quinazolin-4-yl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)-thiazole-5-carboxamide

8a: N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide; trifluoroacetate

tert-Butyl 5-[5-(3-phenylpropylcarbamoyl)thiazol-2-yl]-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrole-2-carboxylate (example 7) (376 mg, 0.82 mmol) was reacted with trifluoroacetic acid analogously to example 3e. Yield: quantitative, M+H+: 355.10.

8b: N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-(5-quinazolin-4-yl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide

N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide; trifluoroacetate was reacted with 4-chloroquinazoline analogously to example 5. Yield: 98%, M+H+: 483.19.

EXAMPLE 9 N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide

N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide; trifluoroacetate was reacted with 2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl chloride analogously to example 3f. Yield: 61%, M+H+: 527.15.

EXAMPLE 10 N-(3-Methylbutyl)-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinamide

10a: tert-Butyl 5-(5-ethoxycarbonylpyridin-2-yl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate

Ethyl 6-chloronicotinate (567 mg, 3.05 mmol), tert-butyl 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate (565.9 mg, 2.7 mmol) and cesium carbonate (878 mg, 2.7 mmol) were stirred in 20 ml of DMF at 100° C. for 8 h and at 120° C. for 8 h. The residue was filtered off, washed with water and ethyl acetate, and dried. The first filtrate was concentrated and stirred with ethyl acetate, and the product was filtered off. Yield: 72%, M+H+: 360.20.

10b: Ethyl 6-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)nicotinate; trifluoroacetate

tert-Butyl 5-(5-ethoxycarbonylpyridin-2-yl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-carboxylate (525 mg, 1.46 mmol) was reacted with trifluoroacetic acid analogously to example 3e. Yield: 95 mg of crude product, still contains excess of trifluoroacetic acid. M+H+: 260.10.

10c: Ethyl 6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]-nicotinate

Ethyl 6-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)nicotinate; trifluoroacetate (95 mg, 0.25 mmol) and triethylamine (77.3 mg, 0.76 mmol) were reacted with 2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl chloride (56.6 mg, 0.27 mmol) in an ice bath analogously to example 3f. Yield: 99%, M+H+: 432.10.

10d: 6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]-nicotinic acid

Ethyl 6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]-nicotinate (110 mg, 0.25 mmol) was converted analogously to example 3c. Yield: 40%, M+H+: 404.10.

10e: N-(3-Methylbutyl)-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinamide

6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinic acid (40 mg, 0.099 mmol) was reacted with isoamylamine analogously to example 3d. Yield: 34%, M+H+: 473.18.

EXAMPLE 11 N-(3-Methylbutyl)-2-[5-(2-bromo-5-methoxybenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide

N-(3-Methylbutyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide, trifluoroacetate (43.8 mg, 0.1 mmol) was reacted with 2-bromo-5-methoxybenzoic acid after activation with HATU analogously to example 3f. M+H+: 519.15.

EXAMPLE 12 N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-[5-(2-bromo-5-methoxybenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide

N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide, trifluoroacetate (44.6 mg, 0.095 mmol) was reacted with 2-bromo-5-methoxybenzoic acid after activation with HATU analogously to example 3f. M+H+: 567.17.

EXAMPLE 13 N-Phenethyl-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-2-yl]nicotinamide

6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinic acid (50 mg, 0.124 mmol) was reacted with 2-phenylethylamine analogously to example 3d. Yield: 45%, M+H+: 507.28.

EXAMPLE 14 N-(2-Cyclopropylethyl)-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinamide

6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinic acid (50 mg, 0.124 mmol) was reacted with 2-cyclopropylethylamine hydrochloride analogously to 3d. Yield: 37%, M+H+: 471.28.

EXAMPLE 15 N-Thiazol-2-ylmethyl-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinamide

6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinic acid (54 mg, 0.134 mmol) was reacted with C-thiazol-2-ylmethylamine, hydrochloride analogously to example 3d. Yield: 28%, M+H+: 500.22.

EXAMPLE 16 N-Methyl-N-thiazol-2-ylmethyl-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinamide

6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinic acid (54 mg, 0.134 mmol) was reacted with methylthiazol-2-ylmethylamine analogously to example 3d. Yield: 52%, M+H+: 514.30.

EXAMPLE 17 N-Cyclopropylmethyl-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinamide

6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinic acid (54 mg, 0.134 mmol) was reacted with C-cyclopropylmethylamine analogously to example 3d. Yield: 77%, M+H+: 457.26.

EXAMPLE 18 N-(3-Hydroxypentyl)-6-[5-(2-bromo-5-methoxybenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]pyridazine-3-carboxamide

N-(3-Hydroxypentyl)-6-(3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)pyridazine-3-carboxamide, trifluoroacetate (466 mg, 0.464 mmol) were reacted with 2-bromo-5-methoxybenzoic acid after activation with HATU analogously to example 3f. M+H+: 530.02.

EXAMPLE 19 N-(2-Cyclopropylethyl)-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]pyridazine-3-carboxamide

N-(2-Cyclopropylethyl)-6-chloropyridazine-3-carboxamide (150 mg, 0.665 mmol) and (3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)methanone, trifluoroacetate (263 mg, 0.665 mmol) were converted analogously to example 3b. Yield: 27%, M+H+: 472.08.

EXAMPLE 20 N-Thiazol-5-ylmethyl-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinamide

6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinic acid (50 mg, 0.124 mmol) were reacted with C-thiazol-5-ylmethylamine, hydrochloride analogously to example 3d. Yield: 58%, M+H+: 500.20.

EXAMPLE 21 N-Cyclopentylmethyl-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinamide

6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinic acid (50 mg, 0.124 mmol) were reacted with C-cyclopentylmethylamine, hydrochloride analogously to example 3d. Yield: 69%, M+H+: 485.28.

EXAMPLE 22 N-(2-Cyclopentylethyl)-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinamide

6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinic acid (50 mg, 0.124 mmol) was reacted with cyclopentylethylamine analogously to example 3d. Yield: 34%, M+H+: 499.28.

EXAMPLE 23 N-Thiazol-4-ylmethyl-6-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinamide

6-[5-(2-Trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]nicotinic acid (140 mg, 0.347 mmol) was reacted with C-thiazol-4-ylmethylamine, hydrochloride analogously to example 3d. Yield: 16%, M+H+: 500.40.

EXAMPLE 24 N-(2-cyclopropylethyl)-2 [5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]-pyrimidine-5-carboxamide

N-(2-cyclopropylethyl)-2-(3,4,5,6-Tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamide; compound with trifluoroacetic acid (300 mg, 0.726 mmol) was reacted with 2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl chloride analogously to example 3F. Yield: 23%, M+H+: 472.16. 

1. A compound of formula I,

wherein: R is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₅)-alkyloxy, (C₁-C₅)-alkylthio, (C₁-C₅)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₈-alkylamino, (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl, (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl, (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl, (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl, or a bicyclic (C₈-C₁₄) ring system, wherein the aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl or bicyclic (C₈-C₁₄) ring system may be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, mono-(C₁-C₆-alkylaminocarbonyl, di-(C₂-C₆-alkylaminocarbonyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₆-alkylcarbonyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl; R1 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyl, (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyloxy, amino, mono-(C₁-C₁₀)-alkylamino, or di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, wherein the alkyl may be substituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, -(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl, —(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl, —(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl or —(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl, wherein the aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl may be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, or di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino; R2 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, or (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl; R3 is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, halogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl, or aminosulfonyl; A is S; B is C(R3); D is N; n is 1; L is a bond, —C(═O)—, —C(═S)—, —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —C(═O)—O—, —S(O)₀₋₂—, —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—, or a mono- or bicyclic ring system in which one or more ring members may be N(R3), O, S or —C(═O)—; and M is —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —N(R2)—C(═O)—, —S(O)₀₋₂—, —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—, —N(R2)—S(O)—O—, or —O—C(═)—; or a physiologically compatible salt thereof.
 2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R1 is (C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyloxy, amino, mono-(C₁-C₁₀)-alkylamino, or di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, wherein the alkyl may be substituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, —(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl, —(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl, —(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl or —(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl, wherein the aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl may be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, or di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino; M is —C(═O)—N(R2)—, —N(R2)—C(═O)—, —S(O)₀₋₂—, —S(O)₀₋₂—N(R2)—, —N(R2)—S(O)₀₋₂—, or —O—C(═O)—; or a physiologically compatible salt thereof.
 3. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R is (C₁-C₁₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₅)-alkyloxy, (C₀-C₄)-alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl, or a bicyclic (C₈-C₁₄) ring system, wherein the aryl or bicyclic (C₈-C₁₄) ring system may be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, mono-(C₁-C₆)-alkylaminocarbonyl, di-(C₂-C₈)-alkylaminocarbonyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylcarbonyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethyloxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkylsulfonyl or aminosulfonyl; R1 is (C₁-C₁₀-alkyl, (C₁-C₁₀)-alkyloxy, amino, mono-(C₁-C₁₀)-alkylamino, or di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, wherein the alkyl may be substituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino, —(C₆-C₁₀)-aryl, —(C₅-C₁₂)-heteroaryl, —(C₃-C₁₂)-heterocyclyl or —(C₃-C₁₂)-cycloalkyl, wherein the aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or cycloalkyl may each optionally be mono- or polysubstituted by halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₃)-alkyloxy, hydroxyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylmercapto, amino, (C₁-C₆)-alkylamino, or di-(C₂-C₁₂)-alkylamino; L is a bond, or —C(═O)—; and M is —C(═O)—N(R2)—, or —O—C(═O)—; or a physiologically compatible salt thereof.
 4. The compound according to claim 1, which is: Ethyl 2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxylate; N-(2-Cyclopropylethyl)-2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide; N-(3-Methylbutyl)-2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide; N-(cyclopropylmethyl)-2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide; N-(3-methylbutyl)-2-(5-quinazolin-4-yl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)-thiazole-5-carboxamide; N-(Cyclopropylmethyl)-2-(5-quinazolin-4-yl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)thiazole-5-carboxamide; tert-Butyl 5-[5-(3-phenylpropylcarbamoyl)thiazol-2-yl]-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrole-2-carboxylate; N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-(5-quinazolin-4-yl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrol-2-yl)-thiazole-5-carboxamide; N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-[5-(2-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide; N-(3-Methylbutyl)-2-[5-(2-bromo-5-methoxybenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide; N-(3-Phenylpropyl)-2-[5-(2-bromo-5-methoxybenzoyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]-pyrrol-2-yl]thiazole-5-carboxamide; or a physiologically compatible salt thereof.
 5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to claim 1 or a physiologically compatible salt thereof, in combination of a pharmacologically compatible carrier.
 6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to claim 2 or a physiologically compatible salt thereof, in combination of a pharmacologically compatible carrier.
 7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to claim 3 or a physiologically compatible salt thereof, in combination of a pharmacologically compatible carrier.
 8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to claim 4 or a physiologically compatible salt thereof, in combination of a pharmacologically compatible carrier.
 9. A process for preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to claim 1 or a physiologically compatible salt thereof, in combination of a pharmacologically compatible carrier, which comprises mixing the compound according to claim 1 or the physiologically compatible salt thereof, with the pharmacologically compatible carrier and bringing this mixture into a form suitable for administration. 